Apparatus for dyeing or otherwise processing fibrous materials



Jan. 14, 1930. w, TRAVER 1,743,254

APPARATUS FOR DYEING OR OTHERWISE PROCESSING FIBROUS MATERIALS Filed April"1'7. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fl/enior:

Jan. 14, 1930. w. A. TRAVER 1,743,254

APPARATUS FOR DYEING OR OTHERWISE PROCESSING FIBROUS MATERIALS Filed April 17, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM A. TRAVER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO FRANKLIN PROCESS COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND AI'PARATUS FOR DYEING OR OTHERWISE PROCESSING FIIBROUS MATERIALS Application filed April 17, 1925. Serial No. 23,895.

This invention relates tomachines and ap obstruct the flow of the dye-liquor or other fluid through the material in the endmost packages of the units.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compression-means adapted to facilitate the operation of placing the packages on their standpipes or stringers, and to hold them in alinement and prevent the topmost packages from canting over or toppling off when the cover is applied to the kier.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for preventing the unrestricted flow of the fluid from the end of the standpipe across the end of the topmost or end package thereon.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a dyeing-vessel or kiershown with its casing and cover broken away at one side to illustrate the yarnpackages held on the standpipes therein with my improved compression-means applied thereto; 1

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken through the vertical axis of the standpipe and illustrating my improved compression-means as applied to use with the yarnpackages stacked on the standpipe; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the'yarnpackages stacked on the standpipe before being compresred, and illustrating the manner in which my improved compression-means acts to sustain the topmost or end packages in place to'prevent them from getting out of alinement or toppling over when the pressure is applied thereto.

The present invention consists in general in providing means to be placed on the ends of the standpipes to hold the endmost yarnpackages in position thereabove before the yarn is compressed, so that they cannot become displaced or moved out of alinement. ln its preferred form the holdingand compression-means for the end packages is te1escopically mounted on the standpipe so that when pressure is applied thereto it will force the packages down to compress the material therein, while at the same time sustaining the end packages when the latter project above theend of the standpipe; and also providing means for the passageof the dye-liquor or other fiuidthrough the end of the standpipe and into the endmost packages without permitting its escape through their axial openmgs. sists in an end-closure or pressure-plate adapted to abut the end package of the series stacked on the standpi'pe with a stopper for closing the end of the central orifice of the package, and having a perforated tube or pipe adapted to be inserted into the standpipe and to slide downwardly when the whole series of packages are compressed longitudinally of the standpipe.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have herein illustrated a usual type of cylindrical dyeing-vessel or kier 2 having a removable top or cover 3. The bottom 4 of the kier is of concavo-convex shape, forming a lower compartment 5 separated from the upper or main chamber'of the kier by a horizontal diaphragm or false-bottom 6. The kier 2 may be supported from legs or standards 7 and entering its lower compartment 5 are suitable supply and exhaust pipes, indicated at 8, for the circulation of the dye-liquor or other fluid through the kier. Usually, a circulating pump, not herein shown, is employed to force the dye-liquor into the lower compartment 5 of the kier, whence it passes through openings in the diaphragm 6 to the upper chamber and is exhausted therefrom by means of an exhaust pipe communicating with the upper chamber in any suitable manner, for instance as shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,052,817,-d'ated February 11, 1913.

Rising from the diaphragm or false-bottom 6 are vertical standpipes 10 screwed into holes therein and openin into the lower compartment 5. The stan pipes 10 extend nearly to the top of the main chamber of the kier and are perforated along their length with small holes 11 to provide for the egress of the fluid,

whereby it is forced through the yarn-packby a reticulated fabric sleeve 14 of a porous nature, such a form of dye-cop tube or holder being described and illustrated in U. S. (reissued) Letters Patent No. 13,223, to F. H. Daniell, dated March 28, 1911, and being well known and generally used in the present art with what is termed the Franklin dyeing process. The yarn is built up on the fabric sleeves 14 surrounding the helical spring or framework 12 of the tube with a cross wind, and a plurality of the compressible packages or dye-cops P are treated as a unit by stack ing or stringing them on the vertical standpipes 10, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

In my U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,511,380, dated October 14, 1924, there is illustrated an improved compression-means for sliding the packages down on the standpipes to compress the yarninto a relatively dense mass whereby it may be subjected to the dyeing or other process to secure a more complete permeationthereof and more uniform results in the dyeing or treatin As shown in the prior patent above re erred to, the cover 3 of the kier carries a series of compression-plates or flanges 15 having sleeves 16 slidably mounted on studs or pins 17 projecting downwardly from the inside of the cover. Surrounding the pins 17 are coiled springs 18 which force the flanges downwardly to a certain extent as limited by the stop-pins 19, see Fig. 2. The cover 3 carries an eye-bolt 20 by means of which it is raised from the top of the kier, and after the packages P have been stacked on the standpi es 10 the cover is lowered into place to seat 1ts rim 21 against the rim 22 of the kier 2. Suitable dowel-pins 23 guide the cover 3 into place and a series of swiveled bolts 24 are engaged with projecting lugs 25 on the cover to clamp' it down on the top of the kier.

It is to be understood that the standpipes 10 are arranged in concentric circles within the kier 2 so that when they are filled with the stacked packages P substantially the whole space within the kier will be occupied. It is also noted that the cover 3 carries a number of compression-plates or flanges 10 equal to the whole number of standpipes l0 and arranged in appropriate relation so that each unit or stack 0 packages will be compressed by its respective flange or head bearing against the end thereof. When the packages are placed on the standpipes' 10 in loading the kier the yarn in the packages is in a more or less unconfined state so that the packages are relatively porous and bulk larger than after being subjected to the dyeing or other treatment. In order to treat as large a number of cops as possible it is the practice to place them on their stringers or standpipes 10 with one or more of the packages projecting thereabove so that when compression is applied to the whole series in any one stack or unit the yarn mass will be forced downwardly until the uppermost or end package assumes a position surrounding the end of the standpipe. It has been found, however, that with this practice the packages are frequently so porous that several of them must be stacked above the end of the standpipe to compensate for the considerable contraction of the whole mass longitudinally thereof, and in such case the uppermost packages are apt to get out of alinement or even to topple over and fall off from the stack when pressure is applied to the end package. Moreover, in some instances when the uppermost or last package in the stack is forced down only sufficiently to bring it to the end of the standpipe the fabric sleeve 14 which surrounds its supporting spring or holder 12 is apt to clog the orifices at the end of the standpipe so as to prevent the free flow of the dye-liquor or other fluid into the yarn in the end package. That is to say, the ends of the fabric sleeve usually project slightly beyond the ends of the package and unless the package is arranged with the standpipe 10 projecting substantially through it, the sleeve becomes crowded around the standpipe and stops the flow of the treating liquid through its perforations. Then, again, it has been the experience that where the end cop or package is simply held under COIIIPIBSSIOI! by a flat flange or head, as described inmy previous patent above referred to, there is danger of the dye-liquor or other fluid escaping between the package and the flange. In fact, in some instances it has been found that when the fluid is forced through the stand pipe under considerable pressure it will escape beyond the upper end thereof between the compression-flange and the end of the last or uppermost package with such force as to tear away and destroy the yarn in the package at this point. With my present improved means for sustaining, compressing and stoppering the axial orifice in the end package of the series of stacked units I avoid these disadvantages in the use of the present dyeingsystem as Will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, my improved supporting and compression-means for the endmost packages of the stacks or units is constructed with a flange or head formed with a central tapered boss or stopper 31 adapted to project into the axial orifice of the tube or holder which supports the end package P, and provided with an axially projecting perforated tube or pipe 32 for insertion into the end of the standpipe 10. I preferably partly close the end opening of the standpipe 10 with a sleeve or thimble 33 fitted thereinto. The upper end of the thimble 33 is tapered or rounded off to facilitate its lnsertion through the central orifices of the packages P when the latter are stacked thereon, and extending through the thimble is a contracted axial opening 34 for receiving the telescoping skewer tube or pipe 32. As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the tube or pipe 32 is driven or screwed into a bore in the boss 31 on the flange 30 and its lower end is preferably tapered or rounded to provide for its easy entrance through the contracted opening 34 in the thimble 33, the upper end of the opening being flared outwardly for the same purpose. The tube 32 is perforated along its length with holes 35 for the egress of the dye-liquor or other fluid to the interior of the packages P. Having now described my improved device in detail in connection with the apparatus with which it cooperates its method of operation in use will next be explained.

To load the kier with yarn or other fibrous materials the cover 3 is removed and the dye-cops or packages P are stacked one above another on the standpipes 10. A suitable number of packages are placed on each standpipe to bring the stack above the upper end thereof, so that when the yarn in the whole series is compressed from the upper end the uppermost package will not he slid down beyond the top of the standpipe. The number of packages placed on each standpipe depends somewhat on the compactness of the individual cops as regulated by the open or close character of the wind. Usually, two or more extra packages will be added to the number reaching to the upper end of the standpipe, as indicated in Fig. 3, the two uppermost-packages resting on the last package in the main stack without sup- .port or guidance from the standpipe 10.

has been found that in stacking the packages above the top of the standpipe inthis manner the topmost ones are liable to get out of alinement with respect to the other packages in the stack and, in some cases, to be toppled over or knocked off when the cover is applied to the kier.' Therefore, to prevent these last packages from becoming displaced or from falling oil? the end of the stack, my resent improvement provides for sustaining and centralizing them from the standpipe itself. For this purpose the perforated tube 10 is skewered through these uppermost packages and inserted into the opening 34 in the thimble 33 at the upper end of the standpipe 10. As the pipe or skewer 32 is applied to use in this manner the flange or head 30 at its end is brought into position abuttin the flat end of the uppermost package 1 whereupon its central boss or stopper 31 will be entered into the end of the axial orifice. or opening through the endmost package to centralize it with respect to the standpipe 10, and to sustain and support this endmost package and the next intermediate one stacked above the end of the standpipe.

' After the packages have been placed on the standpipes 10 in the manner as above described, with the present improved holding and compression-means applied. to the uppermost units to hold them in position above the standpipe, the cover 3 placed on the kier 2 to compress all of the packages contained in the several stacks. As the cover 3 is lowered into position the compressionplates or flanges 15 carried on its under side will press down against the flanges or heads 30 abutting the ends of the uppermost packages on the stringers 10, and the pressure'of the springs 18 will tend to force the flanges downwardly to compress the whole mass of yarn confined between the flanges and the diaphragm or false-bottom 6. The amount of compression depends somewhat on the original density or firmness of the yarn windings in the individual cops, but under ord1nary conditions the whole mass will be compacted to such an extent that the last or endmost package in the series will be brought down nearly to the top of the standpipe 10. That is to say, after the maximum compression has been efi'ected by the spring-pressed sliding flanges 15 on the cover 3 the uppermost package will still remain in position slightly above the top of the standpipe 10, as shown in Fig. 2. Meanwhile, the skewer or telescoping pipe 32 will i have been slid down through the thimble 33 at the end of the standpipe 10 so that it will project only to a slight distance thereabove,

With the packages held on the stringers or standpipes 10 and the uppermost ones. supported from the skewers 32 and their end-flanges or heads 30 in the manner explained, the dye-liquor or other fluid is circulated through the kier in the well known manner to effect the dyeing or other process. As the fluid is forced through the vertical standpipes 10 it is emitted from their openings 11 to flow through the surrounding yarn mass on the tubes or holders 12 and thus caused to permeate the material. In some cases, after the fluid has been forced through the standpipes and exhausted from the mam chamber of the kier, a reverse flow is set up with the liquid forced into the up 'through the standpipes into the lower Wedge into the opening surrounding the standpipe and clog its upper holes so that the fluid would not flow freely therethrough. With the present improved arrangement the dye-liquor will have access to the open end of the skewer or telescoped pipe 32 and will flow therethrough into the center of the endmost package to fully permeate the yam mass thereon. On the other hand, as a further feature of the improvement, the boss .or stopper 31serves to effectually close the end of the central orifice in the endmost package so that the dye-liquor or other liquid cannot escape between its end and the flange or head 30. This provision prevents the fluid from spurting out under the flange and across I the top of the end package as has heretofore been the case. These several deficiencies in the functioning of the apparatus as originally organized were a serious detriment to its use, as the end packages would comefrom the bath in an undyed state, and in some cases the yarn on the endmost cops would be torn away and spoiled by the action of the fluid spurting across the top of the package during its circulation through the kier.

As another feature of'the invention my improved apparatus provides for placing a maximum number of packages on the several units in the kier while insuring the proper dyeing or treating of all of the yarn contained therein with greater convenience with respect to the manual operation of the apparatus. That is to say, the, packages can be stacked on the standpipes with the topmost ones centered in relation thereto and supported therefrom without danger of their becoming displaced. Furthermore, When the cover is lowered into position to compress'the packages the uppermost ones are sustained in proper relation and held from displacement so that they will not be pushed off or caused to topple over and drop into the kier. My improved device therefore makes for greater convenience in handling the packages in load ing the kier, increases the efficiency of the Whole apparatus, and insures against defective dyeing or waste of the yarn or other material.

While I have herein illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the improved device it is to be understood that'various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of the parts of the apparatus without departing from the s irit or scope of the invention. Therefore, Wit out limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the type specified, the combination of a stringer for supporting a series of alined yarn-packages, an extension slidably connected with the end of the stringer, and a closure at the end of the extension comprising a stopper adapted to fit within the end of the axial opening in the endmost package of the series held on the stringer.

2. In an apparatus of the type specified,

the combination .of a perforated standpipe, a perforated extension pipe adapted for telescopic connection with the end of the standpipe, a flange at the end of the extension pipe, and a tapered stopper on the flange adapted to fit within the axial opening in the end of the endmost the standpipe.

In testimony whereof I a'ffix my signature.

WILLIAM A. TRAVER.

package of the series held .on 

